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Zara McDermott has opened up about why she's taking part in the Celebrity X Factor.

The Love Islander has formed a four piece group will fellow stars of the ITV2 series, Wes Nelson, Samira Mighty and Eyal Booker.

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Ahead of the first episode tonight, Zara has taken to social media to discuss her personal reasons for signing up.

She explained: "I have had severe stage fright since I was around 14 years old. I’ve been singing & taught myself how to play the piano when I was around 11 years old. My dad was an incredible musician and we have a recording studio built into our house, so music is and always has been my first love. I know so many people say this, but for me it is so true.

"However, when I was 14 I performed a song that I wrote with a friend at school during a music class. Those who were in my class will probably remember. I got laughed at throughout my whole performance, to the point where I came off stage and swore that was the last time I would ever perform.

"I was bullied for years before and after that about a variety of things that I won’t go into. However I felt in that moment that my passion for music, and what felt to me was the only thing I was good at, was ripped away from me by those nasty kids in my class. I became introverted when it came to my music. I was too scared to even sing in front of my dad."

Zara continued: "I wrote so many songs, I would get home from a horrible day of being taunted at school and play the piano for hours, because it was my escape. However, 8 years on and I was still struggling to sing in front of anyone. I sang within the four walls of my bedroom or in my studio and that is it.

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"The thought of singing in front of my own parents scared the living daylights out of me. I was able to put a few videos of my singing on Instagram over the last few years, In the hope that this would give me some more confidence. However due to online trolling since I came out of Love Island it actually made my fear even worse.

"Despite this, I started working on writing some of my own music earlier this year which I recorded some demos and showed some close family and friends."

Zara went on to reveal how she originally said no to The X Factor: Celebrity before her dad convinced her to sign up.

She recalled: "I walked into the audition room and attempted to sing one of my own original songs. However, as soon as I got there, I broke down. The words couldn’t even come out of my mouth.

"However, the producers saw something in me that I never even saw myself. And I can’t thank them enough for believing in me. I can’t wait to share with you all about the ways I overcame my stage fright, and I will be talking publicly about this soon, as I know it’s something so many people suffer with.

"It was a long process but I got there eventually with my AMAZING bandmates by my side ❤️ Even though I was still petrified by the time I got to judges houses, I forced myself on that stage, it was the scariest thing I have ever done in my life to say the least. But the moment I got off stage, I realised how much I had accomplished and how proud 14 year old me would be!"

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You'll be able to watch Zara perform with her Love Island bandmates when The X Factor: Celebrity launches this Saturday night.

The X Factor: Celebrity begins tonight (Saturday, October 12) at 8:35PM on ITV.